At North Austin Foot & Ankle Institute, our mission is to restore your feet and ankles back to health and help you overcome any obstacles you face in getting back to doing the things you love. As proud members of our Round Rock community, we know there are so many activities and events to do in town – and we don’t want to let foot pain keep you from them!

Fortunately, we are able to provide services that help our neighbors overcome pain and difficulty in the lower limbs. In doing so, you and your loved ones can enjoy everything Round Rock has to offer.

Today, we wanted to take a little time and discuss some of the numerous offerings in our hometown, and we’ll start our journey with a quick stop back in time.

Round Rock has come a long ways from back in 1851, when a small community developed on the banks of Brushy Creek. Those early settlers chose the area because our namesake round rock—located in the middle of the creek—provided a convenient crossing point for cattle, horses, and wagons when the water was at low levels.

If you’ve never taken the time to check out this piece of our history, you can find it near Chisholm Trail Street.

Now, you might not want to actually swim in Brushy Creek for fitness, but something you should consider for your foot health is using swimming as a low-impact activity in your regular exercise program. It’s a great way to work the whole body, while avoiding the force loads that come from running.

Other low-impact exercises to consider incorporating into your fitness routine include cycling, yoga, and even simply walking (which is a vastly underrated exercise).

Speaking of walking, Mark Twain might have said that “golf is a good walk spoiled,” but the fact remains – there is plenty of walking in this sport (as long as you don’t drive a cart, of course!).

We have two outstanding golf courses in Round Rock, if you want to take advantage of a sunny day to head out and “hit the links.” No matter if you choose the Forest Creek Golf Course or Teravista Golf Club, you can have a great time trying for that elusive hole-in-one (or simply trying not to lose all of your golf balls!).

Feet and ankles are fairly susceptible to sports injuries, but golf is a reasonably safe exception to this. It’s more likely that an injury will affect your game than to become injured on the course.

If you are recovering from a foot or ankle sports injury, check with our office before scheduling a day out at either of our local golf courses. We can assess your progress and let you know if there are any potential concerns.

Obviously, donuts are not the most healthy dietary option you can make. That being said, if you practice moderation and base the rest of your eating choices on things like whole grains, fresh veggies, and lean meats, it is okay to occasionally indulge in these delectable pastries.

If you are going to partake in an occasional donut, you should consider heading to Round Rock Donuts – a true Texas tradition that people from all over the country stop by to try.

(In all fairness, there probably aren’t many New Yorkers, for example, who make the trek down here just for donuts. Rather, visitors come here for other reasons and hear about this local treasure.)

As medical professionals—and especially working in the field of podiatry—we have to make this disclaimer:

If you are diabetic, take a pass on the donuts. Diabetes affects your overall health (and that of your feet) in such profound ways and the last thing you need is extra sugar in your system. You do not want to contribute to nerve damage that could ultimately lead to dangerous diabetic foot ulcers or Charcot foot!

Instead, adhere to your diabetic foot care plan. And if you don’t have one, come see us. We will together to keep your feet safe and reduce your risk of serious medical complications.

Diabetes isn’t a lot of fun. Something that can be, though, is our local water park.

Families from throughout Round Rock and surrounding communities love heading to Rock’N River Water Park when the temperatures start to spike. While there, kids of all ages have a great time splashing around and enjoying the parks amenities and features, like 12’ jumping platform, wild slides, and rock climbing wall.

Parents who need to recharge while the young ones are running around get a much needed reprieve in the park’s lazy river.

When you visit Rock’N River—or anytime you will be out in the sun for extended periods—make sure you apply an appropriate sunscreen, and especially on your kids (who wouldn’t likely think to do this themselves). Most people are pretty good about covering their trunks, arms, and legs, but don’t forget to get your feet!

Too many people miss their lower limbs when using sunscreen. This can lead to painful sunburns and, with prolonged periods of exposure, increase the risk for melanoma (skin cancer).

Skin cancer on feet—even though it is fairly rare—is a very serious condition. The reason for this is the fact that cancer is most effectively treated at early stages. Unfortunately, not many people inspect their feet on a regular basis (except diabetic individuals who should be doing this daily!). This means it’s easy for a suspicious spot to go unnoticed.

When left untreated, melanoma can spread. This is especially concerning if it spreads into deeper layers of tissue.

Hopefully it’s easy to see why sunscreen is so important, even on feet!

You probably won’t be barefoot if you catch a Round Rock Express game at The Dell Diamond, but at least make sure to use sunscreen on your face if you go to an early game.

When you go “root, root, root” for our local AAA affiliate of the Texas Rangers, your kids might be more interested in the on-field activities between innings or the delicious concessions offered at the park than the actual game. Either way, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better family event than catching a minor league ballgame – and we’re lucky to have this option right here in town.

Baseball (and softball) is still our “national pastime,” and millions of Americans of all ages head out to the ballpark to play in organized leagues and pick-up games. If you or any of your loved ones are playing ball this year (or any activity, any year), make sure you take the proper precautions to reduce your risk of foot and ankle injuries.

Preventative measures for sports injuries include wearing proper footwear (that fit well!), taking the time to warm up and stretch first, and using correct technique – especially for things like sliding into base or across home plate.

If you are suffering from any problems in your lower limbs, contact us today so we can evaluate the situation and then create an effective treatment plan for you. Our goal is to resolve your foot and ankle problems so you can live your life and do the things you want to do.

For more information, or to request your appointment with North Austin Foot & Ankle, call us at (512) 593-2949 or take advantage of our online form to connect with us right now!